Twice Over (GB) is the tepid 4-1 morning line favorite for
Saturday’s Dubai World Cup. The 14-horse field also includes Fly Down, Gio
Ponti, and three intriguing Japanese entrants.
US fans should be familiar with Twice Over. Henry Cecil’s
classy horse finished 3rd behind Zenyatta and Gio Ponti in the ’09
Breeders’ Cup Classic before disappointing in this race last year. He did not
have a prep for his 2010 World Cup tilt but appears in a much better position
this time after an easy course/distance victory in round three of the Maktoum
Challenge. Tom Queally takes his usual seat aboard the sharp prominent
throughout threat.
Fly Down and Gio Ponti will represent the United States
and the former may not return to the states after this engagement.
Fly Down placed in some big races last year including the
Belmont Stakes, Travers, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Breeders’ Cup Classic. The
late running long winded sort disappointed in his Donn return and has never
raced on synthetic ground.
Gio Ponti finished a close-up 4th in the event
last year but he had a prep for that one and enters without the benefit of a
race under his belt this time around. The US turf champion finished 2nd
in the ’09 BC Classic and ended his 2010 campaign playing second fiddle to
Goldikova in the BC Mile. The hard charging 6-year-old gelding should make his
presence felt in the lane.
Japan
could use some good news following their recent devastating earthquake and
tsunami. They have three entrants in here beginning with talented mare Buena Vista. The consistent daughter of Special Week has
run all of her races on turf and finished 2nd in the Dubai Sheema
Classic here last year.
Victoire Pisa beat Buena Vista by a nose to end his 2010
season and easily captured his seasonal bow in Japan as the overwhelming favorite
in February.
Unlike his Japanese turf specialist counterparts, Transcend
has done most of his damage on dirt. The vastly improved 5-year-old son of Wild
Rush has rattled off three straight and could surprise at 20-1 on the
line.
Musir (AUS) goes for sharp international conditioner Mike
De Kock. He has been part of the exacta in all eight lifetime starts and has
plenty of experience at Meydan. Christophe Soumillion sticks with the
early-pressing factor.
Cape Blanco (IRE) is a classy, multiple stakes winning turf
performer for Aidan O’Brien. He flopped over soft ground as the favorite when
last seen in the 2010 Arc and can compete here if he handles the Tapeta
footing.
Ramzan Kadyrov’s recent purchase Gitano Hernando (GB) has
been erratic since his upset win in the ’09 Goodwood at Santa Anita. He
finished an encouraging 3rd behind Twice Over in his final local
prep for this and he was 6th in this affair last year.
Former Bob Baffert trainee Richard’s Kid won multiple
stakes races in the US
including back-to-back runnings of the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. He finished 7th in the
2010 World Cup and was not a factor in his local prep for this.
Frankie Dettori rides Poet’s Voice (GB) for Godolphin. The
turf mile specialist should get a stern class and surface test.
Monterosso (GB) captured the Emirates Air Dubai City
Gold over the Meyden green in his March 3 return. He handles all-weather
footing and has won half of his twelve lifetime starts but he must answer the
class question in this salty spot.
Prince Bishop (IRE) was one paced in his local prep for
this and seems to be a cut below the best.
Golden Sword rounds out the field from post 14. He enters
in fine form and clearly enjoys the local synthetic track but class is a huge
question for De Kock’s longshot entrant.